I guess I’ve never really understood this story. I recall that it was pretty quick after Tillman was reported killed in action that there was an investigation into possible friendly fire. Which turned out to be true. OK, so what?
The big “hero” mantle that the ~media~ put on Tillman wasn’t so much about how he was killed, but about his decision to leave a lucrative football career to go fight. Which— was a remarkable and noteworthy thing.
That he or any soldier is killed by friendly fire is a special anguish, but it doesn’t reflect on him or his service or the valiant nature of the mission. It is part of the cost of war.
This is just “all-around”...Sad because Tillman is dead, Sad because it would seem the military chain of command fumbled over how to communicate the death of such a high profile soldier, and Sad that we have a salivating media ready to beat the issue to death if it will discredit the military and (indirectly) bash the Bush Administration.
At the end of the day an American Soldier is dead, he gave his life in the service of his country...and nothing should tarnish or take away from that.
God has a special place for people like Tillman, and God has a special place for the journo-hacks at the AP...
The officers in question should have known better.